Kameron Taylor is a 26 year old 198cm guard from Hyattsville, Maryland that is playing his fourth professional season and first with Brose Bamberg. Last season he played with Pecsi VSK-Veolia (Hungary-A Division) currently averaging 19.2ppg), 8.1rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 74.8%. Two seasons ago he played in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf and tore up the Pro B averaging 23,4ppg, 7,9rpg and 5,6apg, and 2,6spg. As a rookie he played with Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games averaging 10.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 80.2%. He started his basketball career at DeMatha Catholic and in 2012-2013 started his career at Seton Hill (NCAA2) and as a freshman played 28 games averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 70.0%. In his second season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 12.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.6apg, 2.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 77.9%. In his junior season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 16 games averaging 13.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 70.6%. In his senior year at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 20.8ppg, 8.7rpg, 4.1apg, 2.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 76.8%. He and germanhoops.com have teamed up sharing a diary from the 2020 BBL tournament in Munich.

Brose Bamberg suffered a tough 86-81 loss to the EWE Baskets. Despite the loss how proud are you of the guys who withstood a 17 point deficit to battle back and lose by only 5 points?


I mean on the good side it’s way better to lose by 5 than by 17 in this type of tournament. But we were still disappointed in the loss.

The EWE Baskets Oldenburg jumped on you from the start and never let up. It is a known fact that it is very difficult to fight a come back exerting more energy. Why did Bamberg have problems finding a rhythm early?

It just felt like our shots weren’t falling in the first half and we couldn’t get together any defensive stops.

Oldenburg’s 2 best players Paulding and Mahalbasic combined for 39 points. Oldenburg has other good role players to keep an eye on, but after the duo’s strong focus, will there be more of a focus to slow them down in game 2?

We will adjust in practice and see what changes coach will make to the game plan.

Ex NBA and Gonzaga player Elias Harris had a huge game with 24 points keeping Bamberg in the game. What kind of experience has it been being teammates with him and how much of a leader role does he have on the team?


He has the ability to get hot at any moment just like many other players on our team. But having his experience on our team has been an advantage for us. Just so we know what to expect over the course of the season and him being familiar with a lot of the players.

You began slowly in the game, but ended strong with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. How challenging is it in the BBL to make personal adjustments on the fly to find your game when it isn’t working as well?

You just keep playing. In the BBL you can’t dwell on what’s going wrong. You have to stick to your strengths and not be discouraged. You must trust yourself and your teammates at all times.

Brose Bamberg has to win by more than 5 points to advance to the semi-finals. What will be key for being able to defend better besides allowing less points to be able to advance?

Team defense and good focus on the game plan.

Before you reached the BBL, you played in the Pro A and Pro B. Had you heard of Rickey Paulding then and what is it like playing against this BBL legend within 48 hours?


He doesn’t play like his age that’s for sure. He’s what a lot of players want to look like at his age. A lot of respect for what he built at Oldenburg and in the BBL.

Have you pressed your luck at the Golf Simulator? Is Golf a game you enjoy or one that requires too much patience?


Nah I’m not much of a golfer. I was more on the dart game. I’m still learning the skill of throwing darts.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Bad Boys 3

Thanks Kam for the chat.

Quantez Robertson is a 35 year old 188cm guard that has played his whole professional career with the Fraport Skyliners. He is playing his 11th season with the club and his biggest feat was helping the club win it’s third club title in 2016 with the Fiba Europe Cup. He belongs to the BBL identity figures with Rickey Paulding and Per Guenther. He began his career at Laurinburg Prep Institute and then played at Auburn (NCAA) from 2005-2009 playing a total of 126 NCAA games. He and germanhoops.com have teamed up with a diary form the BBL tournament in Munich. 

Being captain of a BBL team isn’t an easy job. What do you tell the fellows after a 40 point loss?

I told the guys after the game that we have to continue to stick together, stay focused and prepare for the next game

You have played many games in your professional career. Does this 40 point loss to ratiopharm Ulm belong to the worst in your career?

No actually it isn’t. This loss against Ulm was my second worst loss in my career. You might remember my rookie year in the finals against Bamberg. We lost by 45 points in Bamberg. It was pretty bad.

In a very tough loss like this, how much blame do you give yourself? Does a loss like this make life very tough for you for the next 48 hours as you try to come up ways of being better the next time?

No, but I know that I have to be a lot better on defense in the next game and help my teammates also be better. We have to be concentrated on defense at all times. We know that our offense will come. We missed many open shots and that effected our defense. Defense is what gets our offense going. Giving up so many points like we did isn’t a normal thing for us.

Frankfurt gave up 36 points in the first quarter. You told me before the game that the team had to be more focused and stick to the game plan. As a great and top defender how tough is accepting a defensive loss like this?

The first quarter showed that we didn’t play any defense at all. Ulm is a team that can score and we weren’t able to limit their possessions and let them get into the open court and let them hit open shots.

Frankfurt was killed in the pick and roll and gave up way too many free throws. What do you expect of the team defensively on Friday?

I expect us to come out more aggressive on defense without fouling. We have to help each other out better and most important make sure we communicate better. We didn’t communicate well enough to beat Ulm. 

The Fraport Skyliners have to win by more than 40 points. How do you prepare for a game like this when you have absolutely nothing to lose?

We have to go out and get a win no matter by how much we win by. We want to end the season on a good note. To beat a high scoring team by more than 40 points is tough. It doesn’t matter if we win by 5 or 10 points at least we can end the tournament with a win. 

You stated in the halftime interview that the team didn’t play with heart. Do you think the team will be able to do some successful soul searching by Friday and show a respectable effort?

Yes we will. All the guys feel bad about how they played and losing by so much. We know that we have to compete a lot better than in the first game. We will give it our all. No matter how much a guy plays, we will give it our best.

Do you get extra motivated playing against a guy like Archie Goodwin who played in the NBA for years. What makes it so tough to control him and do you watch extra film on a guy like that?


No I don’t watch extra film on players. I just watch team film that we all watch. I am motivated to play against anyone no matter if he played in the NBA or not. I’m always motivated to compete against good players. Goodwin is very good at driving. We have to stop that and letting him get into the open floor. 

How do you see the other match ups? Who will advance between Alba Berlin-BG Goettingen, Brose Bamberg-EWE Baskets and FC Bayern Munich-MHP Riesen?


I think that Alba Berlin will advance, but it won’t be easy. I think that Oldenburg and Bamberg will each win a game, but Oldenburg will win by more and advance. I believe that the Munich-Ludwigsburg will be a hard fought game. A real nail bitter, but Munich will pull it out. 

It seems like it has been ages since you were teammates with Danilo Barthel. He showed against Ludwigsburg that whenever Munich needs a bucket, he is the man.

He has developed very well since leaving Frankfurt. He plays really well with his back to the basket, makes good plays, get rebounds, makes put backs and can score when he needs to.

With some teams having left the hotel do you see a more serious atmosphere with how players are conducting themselves?


I think that the whole atmosphere in the hotel is still free spirited. Guys are still talking to each other like at the start. Many guys are also in the game room. But when we are on the floor, it is business. Everyone is cool with it. That is what we are here for. We are all competing for the title, but we are all hanging out. It is still relaxed. 

Did you get to know any player better in Munich? You had ample time and so many players to choose from.

I spoke to some guys like Rickey Paulding. We chatted and laughed a bit. But I was trying to get to know our 2 new guys and try help with team chemistry since we didn’t have much time together.

Do you feel like the younger generation are able to see that Michael Jordan is the real GOAT after watching the documentary ‘The Last dance’ or are the majority still believing it’s Lebron?

The younger generation know who Jordan is, but are still leaning to Lebron. They have seen Lebron play in person while only seen videos of Jordan. But I think that the younger generation knows deep down that Jordan is the GOAT. 

Do the Fraport Skyliners have a better chance of winning against ratiopharm Ulm Friday or your buddy Mike Morrison making 1 three pointer next season?

We have a better chance of winning. I don’t give Mike much of a chance of making another three. He is always practicing the three, but he won’t shoot it.

Thanks Tez for the chat.

 Jaleen Smith is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen. Last season he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with Heidelberg he averaged 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He is conducting a special diary from the BBL tournament in Munich with germanhoops.com

Congrats on the huge 87-83 win against FC Bayern Munich. How good does it feel beating the reigning champions on their home court?

To be honest were only half way done. We still have another game to go before we can say we beat the reigning champions. 

When the siren sounded you waved to the Munich bench. Is that already a signal to them that the self confidence of Ludwigsburg will be even higher on Friday?

All it means is we won one game. We still have another game to finish the job.

In our first diary Vol 1 chat you stated this ‘We just have a bunch of guys that are hungry and want to win. We play fearless no matter who the other team is and what players they have. Were going to play our game no matter what’. How vital has head coach John Patrick been in helping the guys believe every day? 

He just lets us play out our game. We know what our strengths are and our weaknesses are. We just focus on our strength and that’s defense. 

After a so so first half, the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg stepped up their game in the second half. What did head coach John Patrick tell you at halftime that you were able to do on the court? 

We just had to stay together and get stops on defense. They had a lot of easy shots just from us going under on ball screens and we made the adjustment in the second half. 

The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg offensive rebounds killed FC Bayern Munich. Did you guys want it more than Munich in the second half? 

Offensive rebounds has been our go to all year. We’re just a scrappy team that just wants the ball a lot. 

What was it like defending German national player Danilo Barthel. He had you on a mis match scoring. He is kind of Munich’s Marcos Knight. 

He’s a good player. Whenever Munich needs a bucket they go right to him 

You had a very solid game with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. How good did that last three feel? Did you know it was going in after you released it?

I had hit another 3 from the same area so from that 3 I had confidence it was going to be a make. The shot wasn’t a great one considering the situation but I’m just happy it went in. 

Is Marcos Knight more of a walking bucket or a very annoying one on one player? What have you learned to appreciate most about his game? 

He’s a walking bucket. I know if were struggling to score on offense he’s going to get us going. I know whenever he gets hot get out of the way and give him the ball. He’s going to get buckets.

Just how good is Jacob Patrick at age 16? He seems to have a very good feel for the game at a young age. How have you helped him in Munich as a point guard best? 

He can really shoot the ball. In our first game against Munich he showed he can put it on the ground and attack the basket as well as find the open guy on the drive. We just been keeping him confident just telling him to shoot his shot when he’s open. 

How valuable has this tournament been for all teams concerning their young German players? So many kids got minutes and valuable experience? 

This tournament is great for these young kids. They’re getting lot of minutes playing in one of the better leagues in Europe. 

The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg are in the driver’s seat now. Game 2 will be a dog fight for 40 minutes. FC Bayern Munich will have to make adjustments. What can we expect from this game and how confident are you that you will advance? 

They will try to go inside more and try and get our big guys in foul trouble. I feel like we have a chance to win it. We will also make some adjustments to our game as well to what they did really good against us. 

Was there any friendly ribbing towards Marcos Knight for missing the dunk? He probably would have really gotten baked by the team if he hadn’t scored off his miss. 

Yes of course, but that was a big turning point during the game. Not only did he miss the dunk, he also got his own rebound and scored the basket. That showed how much we wanted the game more than Munich.

Who would win a one on one you or Marcos Knight? 


I would have to say Marcos. He’s a great 1 on 1 player and he can score from every level at a amazing rate.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.

Kameron Taylor is a 26 year old 198cm guard from Hyattsville, Maryland that is playing his fourth professional season and first with Brose Bamberg. Last season he played with Pecsi VSK-Veolia (Hungary-A Division) currently averaging 19.2ppg), 8.1rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 74.8%. Two seasons ago he played in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf and tore up the Pro B averaging 23,4ppg, 7,9rpg and 5,6apg, and 2,6spg. As a rookie he played with Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games averaging 10.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 80.2%. He started his basketball career at DeMatha Catholic and in 2012-2013 started his career at Seton Hill (NCAA2) and as a freshman played 28 games averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 70.0%. In his second season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 12.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.6apg, 2.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 77.9%. In his junior season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 16 games averaging 13.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 70.6%. In his senior year at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 20.8ppg, 8.7rpg, 4.1apg, 2.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 76.8%. He and germanhoops.com have teamed up sharing a diary from the 2020 BBL tournament in Munich.

Kam congrats on a big win against Rasta Vechta. After not finishing the second half as strong against Frankfurt on the offensive end as in the first half, how proud are you of the team finding that explosive offensive rhythm again.

It was really important for us to get this win to go into the playoffs with some momentum. That’s what we did and I’m very proud.

Fraport Skyliner Lamont Jones told me before your game with Vechta that we haven’t seen the old Bamberg yet. With 2 wins in a row, is the Brose Bamberg of old slowly coming back?

We are focused on being the best team we could possibly be, and winning each game. We want to really make a push in the playoffs.

Rasta Vechta guard Trevis Simpson lit it up with 28 points. What makes it really difficult to keep him in check?

He’s definitely an explosive guy the moves without the ball and can shoot. Those attributes alone make him really good.

Do you feel like it could have become a close game had he not shot 2/11 from outside?

Yea for sure and if we hit more shots we could have won by more but in this game if doesn’t really mean much.

Jordan Crawford had another superb game with 21 points and 6 assists. Do you feel like he has become more of an unselfish player playing in the Bamberg system?

For sure. I think every team knows he’s an explosive scorer so it’s become easier for him to find open guys because he draws so much attention.

You had another fine game scoring 14 points, getting 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Is it an advantage to always play on the court even if it isn’t your real home court?

Haven’t really thought about it. I pretty much am just so focused on the game that you don’t really notice. But now I think about it’s basically our bench energy vs the opponent bench energy. So the advantage comes from who brings more energy.

Brose Bamberg now have a date with the EWE Baskets. Bamberg played against them only once this season losing 71-68. What kind of a series can we await?


Hopefully one that Bamberg will win. But they have a lot of experience on that team so won’t be easy for sure.

The EWE Baskets Oldenburg are coming off an upset win over fC Bayern Munich. How dangerous is this team?

All the teams are dangerous but Oldenburg is one of those top teams that you really have to focus on the little things for 40 min.

A key will be containing Rasid Mahalbasic, but that is a lot easier said then done. This guy never has an off day. What makes this big man so hard to slow down?


He’s a guy that can do it all. That simple honestly.

You have lived in Munich now over a week and have not had the normal kind of conditions that you would have had had COVID-19 not come. What have you enjoyed the most in the last week? Possibly having that AAU feeling in the hotel?

Playing FIFA and COD with my teammates has been pretty fun. Other than that just feels like a regular season.

What was your favorite part in the Last dance documentary?


Dennis Rodman being Dennis Rodman.

Thanks Kam for the chat.

Jaleen Smithbis a 25 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his third professional season and first with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Last season he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg.  In his rookie season with Heidelberg he averaged 7,6ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,9apg. He had a stellar four year career with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He is conducting a special diary from the BBL tournament in Munich with germanhoops.com

A tough 97-89 loss against Alba Berlin. The MHP Riesen played their hearts out, but ran a bit out of steam and gave up 2 late three’s. How good of a test was this game for the upcoming series against FC Bayern Munich?

Yeah playing against Berlin is always tough. They are a really good team and going against them is a great test before we play Munich.

Congrats on a very solid 3-1 record and being able to reach the knock out round. How important was it having a mix of being able to win some tight games as well as being able to register a blow out?


Winning those tight games always brings out your teams character and we have shown a lot of character through out the year winning games like that. Plus winning big in some games shows how we are as well. 

What has been the secret to the success of the MHP Riesen in Munich? You lost some key players, but also got some solid players with Myers and Nixon and why does it seem like the team didn’t have to really get adjusted to the conditions?

We just have a bunch of guys that are hungry and want to win. We play fearless no matter who the other team is and what players they have. Were going to play our game no matter what. 

Zamal Nixon said this about you recently. ‘I met Jaleen a few times because he came to Heidelberg to watch some games during the season. He’s a great guy & it’s definitely cool to share the backcourt with someone who’s grinding their way to the first league through the lower leagues. I always have a different level of respect for those guys because I know first hand how hard it is’. How important has it been for you to have a vet like Zamal knowing he began in lower leagues like you?

He brings the experience of playing in Europe to our team. Also coming from. Heidelberg in Ludwigsburg is a great change. I have experienced it and its great to see someone from the same team as me get the opportunity to play at a high level in Germany. 

The MHP Riesen now face FC Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. You won the only contest of the season 81-74. Is the confidence level at a healthy level and how aware is the team that they could make an upset? 

Everyone knows that they are Bayern, big name, but like I said before no matter the team or what players they have we are going to play our game and stick with it. 

How much weaker is an FC Bayern Munich when Greg Monroe isn’t on the floor? Could him not being present make the difference for you having a very good chance of advancing?


Greg Monroe was a big part of their offense during the year but he wasn’t the only guy who can contribute. They have a lot of guys that can shoot so we have to be careful of not underestimating them during these 2 games. 

FC Bayern Munich haven’t played their best basketball in the last week and are beatable. What kind of series can we await and what will be key to advancing?

Were going to have a dogfight with those guys. The keys for us during the series is not allowing their shooters to get open looks and limiting the post guys from getting easy touches inside. 

Please give a brief summary of the last week living in a hotel with 10 other teams. Did you make any new friends and how often did you visit the game room? 

Living with the other teams in a hotel has been good. I have talked with a couple of the players from different teams. Everyone is just happy to play basketball again and to finish the season off. I have only visited the game room once since I’ve been here. I have my own game room in my hotel room haha. 

When you were at New Hampshire (NCAA), guys like Jordan Crawford and Archie Goodwin were in the NBA. Are you in awe when you see them walking around or are they just normal players like everyone else? 

Just seeing guys like that makes me even hungrier because those guys been there and now there here in a great league. Just goes to show you it doesn’t matter what level you’re at in college you can get to the top. Everyone just has a different route to get there. 

Corona has been a tough time for the world. What did you learn in this time that you feel made you stronger as a man? 

I have been spending all my time with family and friends. I learned to enjoy the little things in life rather than the bigger picture because basketball won’t always be there for me but my family will be. So just spending more time with them is key.

Do you feel like the younger generation may have different feelings about who is the GOAT after watching the ‘Last Dance’ or do you feel like many still hinge toward Lebron James? 

Yes personally for me I have a lot more respect for Jordan and the 1998 Bulls because of the distraction they had during the season from Scottie demanding a trade to the GM of the Bulls not bringing back the Head coach and some the players for the next season no matter if they win a championship or not. I just think the GOAT conversation is forever going to happen between LeBron, Jordan and Kobe.

Thanks Jaleen for the chat.

Quantez Robertson is a 35 year old 188cm guard that has played his whole professional career with the Fraport Skyliners. He is playing his 11th season with the club and his biggest feat was helping the club win it’s third club title in 2016 with the Fiba Europe Cup. He belongs to the BBL identity figures with Rickey Paulding and Per Guenther. He began his career at Laurinburg Prep Institute and then played at Auburn (NCAA) from 2005-2009 playing a total of 126 NCAA games. He and germanhoops.com teamed up with a diary form the BBL tournament in Munich. 

The Fraport Skyliners finished the Group B phase with a 1-3 record. What is your summary of the first 4 games? What grade would you give the team?

Being that we aren’t at full strength, I would give the team a good C+. We have had our young guys come in and step up. They have gotten more experience in the last games and that will help in the series against Ulm. We have to lock in better on defense. We weren’t physical enough against Bamberg and that is why that game got away from us early. We have to get back to our regular brand of basketball by playing defense first and getting into the open court.

The Fraport Skyliners played all 3 teams in the 3 loses very tough. What do you feel the team learned from their mistakes that will make them mentally tougher for ratiopharm Ulm

I think we have learned to be more focused from those loses. We have to be very focused against Ulm and pay more attention to the game plan. 

The club has had more injury woes and have lost scoring ace Lamont Jones. How is the state of the team right now mentally?

I feel that we are very mentally prepared. Guys know that when their number is called that they have to step up. We know that we all have to step up at both ends of the court and perform at a high level. 

How much of a pleasure has it been playing with Yorman Polas Bartolo? How dangerous do you feel would you and him be on the court now had you been teammates since day 1?

It has been fun sharing the court with him. He may still be a veteran, but he still asks questions trying to understand the little things on defense and how the offense is run. I think that if he had been here since day 1 that it would have been even tougher for teams to play us. Having Yorman, Akeem and me on the wing picking up the full court would have made it more difficult teams to score. 

How much pressure has he taken off you offensively and defensively? Have you been able to focus on some things that you don’t necessarily can during games?

Nothing has changed. I still focus on the same things on offense and defense. Having him by my side has made things better and easier also. 

The Fraport Skyliners now face ratiopharm Ulm who you beat earlier in the season. How important is it knowing you have beaten them going into the series?

We won then, but both teams are different now. Both teams have lost players and gained new players. Anything can happen in the next games. 

What kind of series can we await 36 points will be missing from the win as Jones and kratzer are out. How will Frankfurt advance?

We have to slow down the pace. They like to run. If we can force them into a half court game then we will have better chances to win. 

People always talk about you and Paulding as the main BBL identity figures, but Per Guenther is also one. He has played in ULM since 2008. What does it mean playing against a warrior like that?

It is crazy how people forget him and say that Rickey and me are the face of the BBL. He is a warrior that has shown for years that he can shoot the ball and run a team. I’ll never forget his big shots in Frankfurt in the playoffs. That is what good players do. They hit big shots. I’m looking to get back at him for that. He has been in the league just as long as Rickey and me. He is the face of the BBL just as we are.

Can Leon Kratzer take on an extra load of cheering now that Lamont Jones has left?


Yes he can. He has been our #1 fan since we arrived. He is so anxious to play, but isn’t able to, because he is still banged up. He is our biggest cheerleader. We can always count on him.

You have lived now a week in Munich. Could you ever imagine wearing that traditional Bavarian clothes with the leather shorts?

No, but maybe if it was for Halloween. If all the guys on the team went like that, then I would also.

Thanks Tez for the chat.

Robin Jorch is a 25 year old 211cm center from Berlin that will play his first season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (ProA). He played the last 5 seasons in the states with Boise State (NCAA) playing 111 NCAA games. In his senior year he averaged 3.8ppg, 2.9rpg. He began his basketball career with the International Berlin Basketball Academy. He then played with RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf from 2010-2015 playing a total of 85 Pro B games and in his last season averaged 10.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 55.4%. He also was a member of the German U-16, U-17, U-18, and U-20 national teams. He was a member of the German 3×3 Men Team for Youth Olympic Games in Italy and played at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim (Germany) in 2012. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career. 

Robin thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you experienced COVID-19 in Germany?


Thanks for interviewing me. I am in Berlin, Germany at the moment. I got back from Boise, Idaho about a week and a half ago, now sitting in quarantine for five more days. When I was still in Idaho, I was watching the German news to keep up with what was going on here. It was scary to see that people had been assigned to not leave the house and only work from home. It was shocking because in Idaho specifically, it seemed that the corona virus wasn’t as present as in other countries, or US states. Flying home to Germany, I had to wear a face-mask for the whole trip, and I was glad to take it off after almost 20 hours of traveling. Like I mentioned earlier, since I got back, I have been inside, strictly following the quarantine rules.

You played your last NCAA game on March 6th and then COVID-19 hit the world. How much longer did you remain in the States before heading home? How did you experience the early stages of COVID-19 in Idaho?


After playing my last game in March, I stayed in the US for another two months. At the time, the virus has hit Germany pretty hard and we had a high infection number. So I decided to stay in Boise, as I felt safer. Also, I had more opportunities to keep working out. I had a gym that I could access day and night, plus coaches that were willing to work me out. The beginning stages of the corona virus were weird. At first it didn’t seem as serious, but once all the sporting events, including our season, got cancelled, that was when everybody realized that this might be way more serious than just a common virus. However, Idaho continued to be very safe, as we had a low number of infected, compared to other states. That might have been due to the lack of testing resources, nevertheless the city never fully “shut down” until about late April. Even then, you were still able to order in, or go pick up food from restaurants. 

When you returned back to Germany, did you do anything special to stay in shape in your house? Or were you able to do sports related things outside?

Once I got back to Germany, I knew it would be a challenge to stay in shape. Having no fitness equipment at home, I decided to go for runs and outdoor workouts in a small, nearby park. I usually go in the morning, to avoid people. 

What did you learn these tough times with COVID-19 that has made you stronger as a person?

One thing my coach always used to say was “It’s not gonna be easy”. So I looked at it as a challenge, and in a time like this, there was/is only so much you can do, with gyms and fitness centers being closed. So what made me stronger was focusing on what I could do, instead of what I couldn’t. This meant working out in the backyard, or doing ballhandling in the driveway. 

The easyCredit BBL is completing it’s season with fans. That could happen when the Pro A resumes in the fall. What is your opinion of playing games without fans?

Of course it is way more fun to play in a packed gym, but as of right now it is safer to not have fans at the games, and I completely understand. Personally, I haven’t played an official game with no fans present, except for closed scrimmages and practice games. But I’m sure it’ll be cool, and even a small advantage during away games. 

What teammates or former teammates did you keep the closest contact during the last months?

Two of my former teammates I used to play with at Boise State still live in Boise, and over the years we became close friends. During the season it was hard to see each other and find times to hang out. But since everything slowed down with COVID-19, we had more opportunities to get together. Also, I kept in close contact with my former teammates here in Berlin. Knowing I would come back to Germany soon, we made appropriate plans ahead of time. 

Congrats on signing with German pro A team wiha Panthers. What do you know in general about this organization?


Thank you, I am grateful for the opportunity, and I am excited to see what this season will bring. Honestly, I didn’t know a whole lot about the Wiha Panthers, but then again, neither did I about Boise, Idaho and I had 5 incredible years there. I knew that the Panthers had moved up from the Pro B the previous season and were in 9th place before the season got cancelled. But after talking to Coach Velcic he told me a lot about the organization, the team, and the goals for the upcoming season. This was when I started seeing myself playing for the Panthers. 

Head coach Alen Velcic is really high on your abilities. You said in the press release that you see yourself developing well with this club. Was the impression you got of Alen Velcic one where you know that learning from him will be beneficial for your game?


Definitely, yes. From the beginning, Coach Velcic was very open and honest about how he coaches and runs things. And that helped a lot making my decision. I believe that he can help me improve my game and I am confident that I will fit great into this team. 

You have been off the radar for German teams mainly because you have been in the States in the last 5 years. Do you feel like that could be an advantage for you in the first few months on the floor as teams may not take your game seriously yet.

Yes, I believe that can be a great advantage. Since playing in the Pro B I have made a big jump individually. And like you said, I have been off the radar, which I feel like will contribute to the advantage even more. 

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 211cm center that showed in the Pro B with Stahnsdorf that you can be an efficient player. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description.

I want to be really careful here, because obviously NBA players are the best of the best. But if I would have to compare myself, I would say Dirk Nowitzki, since I always had a good shooting touch for a big man. Maybe even Joel Embiid, being able to play inside out to an extent. 

You didn’t play as much in the NCAA like you may have liked to. How hungry are you to make a statement in the Pro A?

I am extremely hungry. I am excited to be playing in Germany again, and like you said, I wasn’t able to show my full potential during my college time. I believe the European basketball style will fit me better, and I will be able to show that on the court and be more efficient. 

Talk a little about your game. What strengths do you have besides scoring and rebounding? You are known for being a team player.

Another strength would be my defense, and being willing to give up my body, meaning taking charges and diving on/for the ball. Also I feel like I’m good at reading the game and specific situations, knowing when to score or rather pass the ball. I love making plays for my teammates, as I understand that my team will be more successful that way. 

How much pride do you take on the defensive end. How did you grow as a defender in school and what do you need to do now to make the next step as a defender?

I always understood the importance of defense and that, over the course of the game, will eventually win you the game. So I valued that early, and looked for ways to improve it. Something I want to work on to become an even better defender is my lateral quickness. That will help me in Pick n’ Roll situations, but also defending big man that can play off the dribble. 

On what parts of your game will you be tweaking most this summer so that you will be best prepared when you arrive in the Pro A this fall?

I want to work on my 3-point-shooting, so that I can get back to playing more Pick n’ Pop and being a threat from 3′. Additionally, I will continue working on creating plays out of short rolls as I believe them to be valuable and hard to defend. 

You played 5 years at Eintracht Stahnsdorf. How important were these years in your early basketball development?


These 5 years at Stahnsdorf gave a lot of confidence. In young years I struggled with playing to my best potential, but playing in the Pro B when I was younger helped come closer to that. I also got to a point where I could try moves in practices and games that I wanted to add to my game. So overall, I am very grateful I was able to play that way during my time there. 

How vital was Michael Hauke in your early development? What do you remember soaking up most from his game?

I didn’t realize this until later, but playing against Hauke during practice made me more physical. I was this 16 year old trying to defend this strong and grown man in the post. And I had to put a lot of effort into even trying keeping him on the block. But like I said, playing against him made it easier in the game to play against other centers, because at the time he was one of the strongest post-players. 

You played 4 years at Boise State. How did you develop as a player in the NCAA and how is Robin Jorch a better player today than in 2015?

College Basketball is way faster and partly more physical than European basketball. Over the years I learned to play faster and get more used to the physicality, especially under the basket. Also, I improved my post-game since that was my main focus during the games. I got better at reading post-situations and playing to my strengths. 

What were your biggest highlights at Boise State? As a senior you had some huge games against UTEP and SJSU with wins and good individual games

One of my highlights was scoring my season high, against San Jose State University. But besides from having good offensive games, I remember my games were I had great defensive efforts. During the 2019 Christmas tournament in Hawaii, I took 8 offensive fouls in only 3 games.

You averaged 15 minutes as a senior after averaging 8 as a sophomore and 9 as a junior. Was your limited role difficult to live with. How did you grow mentally as a player having to learn to be efficient coming from the bench?

I never complained about wanting to play more minutes. Most important to me was that the team was winning, even if that meant that I had to sit on the bench more during a game. During games like that I always try to think of what I can to do contribute to the team’s success. So I would think to myself “If I only come in for a short amount of time, then I will just play as hard as I can”, knowing I did everything in my power that I can control. 

You were teammates with German Christian Sengfelder. What was your fondest memory with him and how do you feel did you profit from his game best?

Man, I love Chris. One thing I can learned from Chris is always playing at 110%. He always has this extreme energy, and you just know you get his best at all times. Me and Chris have bunch of great memories together, but one of the funniest was in the locker room before a game. We would always have to know the scouting report of the opponent team. So Chris gets called on and gets quizzed, and with his heavy accent he says “… He (this player from the other team) will try to be super physical, he will try to bully me, but I won’t let that happen”. Everybody just started laughing. 

How did head coach Leon Rice groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Rice was a great Coach, he always pushed me to be my best version. That sometimes meant getting on me and yelling at me, trying to get the best out of me. Additionally, he always took care of his players. He would make sure that we always had food in our locker-room, had enough time to rest between shoot-around’s and games, and that we would have off days to recover our bodies. At first I took that for granted, but quickly noticed that this was something not every school had and did. So thanks to him I am still healthy and able to do what I love. 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Zach Haney?

Good one. I think it is pretty even by now, but at the end Zach won one or two more games against me. I’ll give him that.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that made the NBA?

Chandler Hutchison, my teammate. and I hate to be that guy that picks him, but I’ve seen what he went through and had to battle at the time. The jump that he made was incredible, and he knew exactly what it would take. And he showed that perseverance and became a great and tough leader in our team. I speak highly of him, because he deserves nothing less.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?


Chris Sengfelder, Chandler Hutchison, Paul Zipser, James Reid, and Nick Duncan.

What is your personal opinion of who is the greatest Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

I don’t have an answer to that. Obviously, they both are one of a kind. Jordan was the greatest back in his era, now LeBron is the greatest of this era. I hate to disrespect Jordan like that, but in a 1v1, I believe LeBron to win, just because he is physically stronger, and can play any position. 

What was the last movie that you saw?

Last movie I watched was “Ford v Ferrari”on the plane back to Germany. Good movie, I would recommend it.

Thanks Robin for the chat.

Javontae Hawkins is a 26 year old 196cm forward from Huntigton, West Virginia playing his third professional season and first with the Crailsheim Merlins currently averaging 16,4ppg, 4,6rpg and 1,4apg. Last season he played with Holargos B.C. (Greece-A1) playing 29 games averaging 11.7ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 77.5%. As a rookie he played with the Salon Vilpas Vikings (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 54 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 79.9%. He played NCAA basketball at three schools with S Florida from 2012-2014 playing 54 NCAA games, then had his break out season with Eastern Kentucky (NCAA) playing 30 games averaging 17.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 76.5% and finished at Fordham (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 84.3%. He and Eurobasket have teamed up for a diary from the BBL tournament in Munich

How you feeling this morning after that very exciting game against the EWE Baskets? Do you still have your voice?

I feel great. We fought hard once again. But came up short. Extremely proud of how the guys fought.

It was another tough loss for the Crailsheim Merlins. But with the circumstances and all was this the best played Merlins game of the Munich tournament?

By far the best game we displayed despite being short handed. Just shows how much character we have as a unit.

Talk a bit what was going through your head with 12 seconds to play and the 83-82 lead after the Sebastian Herrerra bucket? The club was so close to the win, but missed it. Now after sleeping on it, how could have the Merlins prevented that last Karsten Tadda lay up better?

I feel like we fought so hard, and executed the way we was supposed to. Tadda made an exceptional play and you just have to give credit where it’s due.

Fraport Skyliner Lamont Jones expressed his enthusiasm for Sebastian Herrera. This guy continues to improve each season. How have you monitored his development this season and how has his leadership grown in these tough times with so many injuries?

Seba Herrera has been great all season long. He’s has improved on and off the court. Bringing energy in the locker room, practice, and games. I commend him for his leadership and for bringing energy every practice and game. He’s going to have a bright future.

Just a few years ago Dejan Kovacevic was a talented player lost in FC Bayern Munich’s Pro B team and now has grown into a solid BBL player. Please explain how much he has profited from the injuries and more playing time?

Dejan is a special talent. I believe he’s grown a lot throughout the year despite seeing limited action. He’s eager to work hard and learn things to enhance his play. He’s going to have a bright future as he continues to work hard, and elevate his confidence. He’s a special player to me when he’s confident. Very skilled big! And great teammate on top of that.

Talk about the day after. How different is a day for an injured player at the tournament than for a player who is locked into knowing that he must do his job in the next game?

It’s no difference. My job is to still be laser sharp and locked in to help my teammates who are performing. This is time for me to grow more as a leader which is something I’m naturally am. But it allows me to see things from a different perspective.

How has Dewayne Russell been staying positive mentally in these times. Now that you both are out, have you found a new special bond in these tough times?

Dewayne is always positive. He’s been carrying himself like the professional he is even while being hurt. He’s been getting the proper treatment, being an extra voice to motivate the other players, bringing energy every practice and game day. Our bond was special from day 1 and we will have a friendship that will last a lifetime.

Despite not winning a game yet, the Merlins still can on Tuesday by winning the game for ninth place. How aware is the club that with a win and 9th place finish that you could still qualify for an international tournament next season?

Not really aware of what could happen next season, right now just focused on getting the win on Tuesday so that we can leave this tournament with our heads held high despite the injuries, and team losses.

Talk about an experience that you have had with a player in the last days that was cool. Is a guy like Jordan Crawford a guy you would like to get to know better if you had the chance?

For sure, JC is another Michigan legend. I’m from Flint and he’s from Detroit. I’d love to pick his brain a bit, hopefully him and I could get in the gym this summer to work out. He’s a pro, a scoring machine, and he seems like a cool guy, we definitely know a lot of mutual people from the Michigan area.

Who wins a one on one in practice you or Sebastian Herrerra?

aha me all day. I don’t lose in 1 on 1. I confidently, humbly feel that I’m the best 1 on 1 player in the BBL and one of the best in Europe. Not too many guards that can equally score in the post, mid range and from perimeter.

Thanks Javontae for the chat.

Lamont Jones is a 29 year old 183cm guard from Harlem, New York that is playing his 7th professional season and third in Germany and first with the Fraport after having played with MBC and the MHP Riesen. He also gathered professional experience in countries like Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, France and Montenegro. He began his basketball career at Rice high school and then played 2 seasons at the University of Arizona (NCAA) and 2 seasons with Iona (NCAA). He is conducting a special diary with germanhoops.com at the BBL Munich tournament

A tough 99-83 loss to Brose Bamberg. What was tougher to digest the loss or the list of the walking wounded?

The list of the walking wounded has been more difficult to digest. Marco Voeller is ok after having a tough fall. 

This was just a very tough day at the office for the Fraport Skyliners. Frankfurt gave up 59 points to Vechta and 58 points to Bamberg in the first half. Obviously there is a class difference between Bamberg and Vechta, but still how can a team let up so many points 48 hours later?

They came out and hit their shots in the first half. Everyone went unconscience. They had lost by 30 points to Oldenburg and came back and wanted to win badly. 

Bamberg had 7 guys to score in double figures. How dangerous is a Bamberg team when their offense is clicking the way it was? Are they a dark horse and can they win it all?

I don’t see Bamberg as a dark horse team. They just haven’t been able to put it all together yet. Nobody doubts their talent. If they can keep putting it together then they could become the regular Bamberg again.

You battled Retin Obasohan twice a few years ago when you were with MBC and he was with Gotha. You had 2 great games in wins while he had 2 solid games. How did his G-League season shape his game? How is he a different player now?

He is a different player. He has more guys around him in Bamberg and doesn’t need to score as much as before with Gotha. He doesn’t have to be aggressive anymore. He has become more of a point guard than a scoring force. He is a very dangerous player with his body.

Tez nailed 3 three’s in a row. Was there any friendly joking from you at some point after the game?

No not really. Tez has been doing this for a long time and knows how to play. I have seen him doing that for years and it isn’t anything special anymore. He is older now and it isn’t easy coming back after 3 months off, but he showed he can do it.

The Fraport Skyliners need some help from some other teams. The basketball God hasn’t been too friendly this season to Frankfurt. Will he be on your side and help you reach the knock out round?

I don’t know. Anything has been possible in this tournament. You can’t totally rule out Vechta. Bamberg also haven’t shown their best basketball yet. You never know what can happen. You just have to keep your options open and be ready for the task at hand. 

Young German Maxi Begue made his BBL debut. What kind of impression has he made on you in practice during the tournament?

It was good for him seeing his first minutes. He saw that there is a difference between the BBL and NBBL. He has a great body, is athletic and is a raw talent. I think that once he gets more experience and someone takes some time to help fine tune his game he can be really good.

I noticed that your phone got fixed. You were without it’s services for 5 days. How tough was this time and just how dependent are you on your phone?

I have another phone. I just couldn’t get into my WhatsApp account. There are times when your in the gym or on walks where there is no service. All in all it wasn’t too tough.

How wins a one on one you or Retin Obasohan?

That is a tough one, but I’m still going with me. I have played against him in the past. One on one is an offensive game. As good as his defense is, my offense is better.

Thanks Mo Mo for the chat.

 Kameron Taylor is a 26 year old 198cm guard from Hyattsville, Maryland that is playing his fourth professional season and first with Brose Bamberg. Last season he played with Pecsi VSK-Veolia (Hungary-A Division) currently averaging 19.2ppg), 8.1rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 74.8%. Two seasons ago he played in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf and tore up the Pro B averaging 23,4ppg, 7,9rpg and 5,6apg, and 2,6spg. As a rookie he played with Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games averaging 10.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 80.2%. He started his basketball career at DeMatha Catholic and in 2012-2013 started his career at Seton Hill (NCAA2) and as a freshman played 28 games averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 70.0%. In his second season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 12.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.6apg, 2.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 77.9%. In his junior season at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 16 games averaging 13.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 70.6%. In his senior year at Seton Hill (NCAA2) he played 27 games averaging 20.8ppg, 8.7rpg, 4.1apg, 2.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 76.8%. He and germanhoops.com have teamed up sharing a diary from the 2020 BBL tournament in Munich.

Congrats Kam on the big 99-83 win over the Fraport Skyliners. How good did it feel getting the monkey off the back and winning the first game?

Definitely feels good to get a win. But the job isn’t done yet.

Brose Bamberg clobbered Frankfurt in the first half scoring 58 points. Was that one or the best half of offensive basketball that the club has displayed this season?

It felt like everyone was touching the ball and making the right plays. This season we have clicked like that before, just hope to run with it.

Bamberg allowed 36 points in the first half, but 30 in the third quarter. Was this a good example of just how dangerous a team like Frankfurt can be when they want to? What did the Bamberg defense get away from?


Frankfurt definitely was making big plays. But on the other side we have to be focused and not let up when we are ahead.

You had a solid game as usual with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 17 minutes. How do you feel has your game benefited from the short recovery period and what has been key for you being able to play consistent?

I just try to make the best play and continue to be aggressive. When the team is playing like that we are definitely a high level squad.

Brose Bamberg need a win against Vechta who have played teams tough, but came up short. What kind of game can we await and what will be key for getting the win?

We are going in to win. Vechta is a great team who play with a lot of fire. Though they lost some games, we know it’s not going to be an easy game

What kind of impression has German Moritz Pleischer left on you? He was an important player for Pro B team Baunach and was fortunate to get added to the tournament roster.

He is great. He continues to learn everyday and you can tell he’s hungry to improve every single day. His future is bright.

He like so many other young Germans on all the teams have really profited from the tournament getting minutes. How valuable will this tournament be after 3 weeks for the development of young Germans during the COVID-19 period?

All of our young guys our getting much needed experience. Marvin Heckel has especially looked good and is definitely one of the surprises on our squad.

You have been in Munich now for a week. Please make a little summary of your experiences on and off the court. What has been your most positive experience you have made so far?

I’ve been killing my teammates in FIFA. Haven’t lost but the atmosphere of the hotel is also very cool. All the teams hanging with each other just talking is pretty nice.

Who wins a one on one you or Retin Obasohan?

No one beating me in one on one.

Thanks Kam for the chat.